PIA News Service - Tuesday, February 19, 2013

BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 19 (PIA) -- The Regional
Development Council (RDC) is spearheading the annual commemoration of the
establishment of Caraga.

Caraga Region was created on February 23, 1995
through Republic Act 7901. This year, residents are celebrating its 18th
anniversary with the theme “Celebrating the Indigenous Peoples’ Culture in
Caraga.”

The theme for this year highlights the rich
culture and tradition of the indigenous peoples (IPs) in Caraga while promoting
the protection of the rights and well-being of the IPs due them with regards to
their customs, beliefs, and institutions as espoused in Republic Act 8371 or
the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act.

RDC Chairperson and Surigao del Norte Governor
Sol Matugas said that a calendar of activities has been drawn for this year’s
month-long celebration.

“Apart from the agency-led activities, the RDC
in partnership with the various regional line agencies and local government
units has organized a series of activities on February 22, 2013 as the
highlights of the celebration,” said Matugas.

The celebration will start with a parade from
the city hall going to Agusan del Norte Provincial Covered Court, this city,
where the thanksgiving mass and program will also be held.

Matugas added that one of the highlights of the
day’s activities is the Cultural Show at 4 p.m. at the Las Nieves Hall, Almont
Hotel’s Inland Resort here.

“During this event, traditional dances and songs
of the Indigenous Peoples will be featured. We will also recognize outgoing and
retiring regional directors for their dedicated service and invaluable
contributions to the development of Caraga,” explained Matugas.

It was also learned that the Caraga anniversary
celebration is also in time with the launching of the National Year of the Rice
2013 to be spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture.

Along with it is the conduct of the following
activities: Press Conference, Exhibit of Agri-Products, Quiz Show,
Poster-making Contest, and Farmers’ Forum. Each will be held in different
venues of this city.

The RDC also hoped for the full support and
participation of the Caraganons for this celebration. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

According to the Miguel local Disaster and Risk
Reduction Management (DRRM) officer Charles Suhian, the river overflowed around
9 a.m. today, affecting more than five barangays in the area including Barangay
Poblacion.

Meanwhile, according to the press statement of
the local DRRMC of Bislig, Tandag, Carmen, and San Miguel, classes were
suspended from pre-school to elementary level early today after the whole
province experiencing moderate to heavy rainfall since yesterday. Pagasa said that
the Low Pressure Area (LPA) had developed to a tropical depression, Crising,
early last night.

Roads and bridges along Tandag bound to northern
and southern part boundaries of the DPWH 1st District Engineering Office were
reportedly passable as of 10:30 a.m., today, according to DPWH Information
Officer Jo Moselina. (NGBT/PIA-Surgiao del Sur)

DAR-Caraga turns over road project to RT Romualdez
town

By Joie L. Ceballos

AGUSAN DEL NORTE, Feb. 19 (PIA) -- The
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Caraga handed over to the local government
unit of Remedios T Romualdez (RTR) the completed NRJ Poblacion II to San
Antonio farm-to-market road on February 15.

The P27.9 million road rehabilitation/concreting
project stretches to 6.5 kilometers and traverses three barangays namely
Poblacion II, Balangbalang, and San Antonio, all of RTR, Agusan Norte.

During the turn-over ceremony, Mayor Nilo Soliva
expressed gratitude to DAR not only for the road project but also for the many
projects it showered to the municipality. He further encouraged the residents
to be watchdogs of the project to make it stay longer.

In his message, DAR Regional Director Faisar
Mambuay asked the local government to allocate funds for its maintenance so
that the project will be of use to its maximum potential. He said, “The project
will ease the travel of both people and products.”

The project was implemented by the Department of
Public Works and Highways which was represented by Engr. Salvador Montil during
the turn-over ceremony.

The project is under the Agrarian Reform
Infrastructure Support Project (ARISP-III) of DAR. (NCLM/DAR-13/PIA-Agusan del
Norte)

It also resulted to the confiscation/seizure of
suspected shabu contained in one heat sealed transparent plastic sachet bought
during buy-bust, 14 heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets recovered during
the implementation of Search Warrant and assorted drug paraphernalia.

The suspect, who was found positive for use of
shabu, is presently detained at PDEA-Caraga Regional Office detention cell here
while cases for violation of Sec. 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), Sec. 11
(Possession of Dangerous Drugs) and Sec. 12 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia),
Article II, RA 9165 are being prepared for filing in court. (PDEA-13/PIA-Caraga)

Army lectures youth of role in peace and
development in Tubod, Alegria

SURIGAO CITY, Feb. 19 -- The Speakers Bureau
Team of the 30th Infantry (Python) Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Philippine
Army conducted recently a series of symposium to high school students of Tubod
National High School, Timamana National High School and Alegria National High
School, Surigao del Norte.

The symposium focused on the roles and responsibilities
of youth in peace and development; it also included lectures and interactive
discussion on leadership development, moral values enhancement, interpersonal
communication, drug prevention and security awareness.

The Speakers’ Bureau likewise introduced the
Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
called “Bayanihan” as part of the effort to let the audience understand the
current thrust of the Army in winning the peace, instead of winning the war
against insurgency.

The activity also gave the Speakers’ Bureau Team
an opportunity to invite the 4th year high school students to take the
scheduled Philippine Military Academy Entrance Examination this coming August
25, 2013 and become one of the cadets of Philippine Military Academy in Baguio
City.

In his message, 30th IB, PA Civil Military
Operations Officer Capt. Steve Mangabat said that the school symposium is a
continuing program of the 30th Infantry Battalion Civil-Military Operation
focusing on the youth, which is one of the most important and dynamic sector of
the society.

He also said that youth are catalysts of social
transformation as they have high ideals, they are dynamic, and they have
untainted social perceptions. It is to this effect that all stakeholders that
are concerned with youth development should make it a personal commitment to be
“youth keepers” by mentoring the youth away from wickedness and wrongdoings.

All stakeholders should guide the youth to
become more disciplined and responsible, and encourage them to participate in
community peace and development activities that will truly benefit the schools
and communities where they belong, Mangabat added.

Around 620 high school students participated
during the said event headed by the 30th IB Phil. Army headed by Capt. Steve L.
Mangabat and PA Charlie Company Commanding Officer 1LT Benjamin T. Depay in
cooperation with Alegria Municipal Police Station led by PSI Richelu B.
Alucila, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development led by Municipal
Officer Norberta Sepria. (SDR/CMO-30IB, PA/PIA-Surigao del Norte)